How to Properly Use Dog Whitening Shampoo: A Quick Guid

White is a color that can be quite sensitive for us, but for dogs with white fur, it poses an even greater challenge. Despite their adorable appearance, maintaining their pristine white coat requires some effort on your part. Therefore, it's worth investing the time to keep your dog's fur looking its best. Let's delve into the role of whitening shampoos for dogs and how to create your own at home.

Why Do Dogs Get Dirty?

The answer is simple: just like humans, dogs can get dirty. If a dog has darker fur, it may appear cleaner for longer periods, and it takes more time to notice any stains. After a walk with your dog, take a close look at their coat. Whether they're playing, sniffing around bushes, or romping with other dogs, they can easily pick up dirt, mud, and dust.

When your dog lies down, you might notice their belly or leg area turning yellow. The dirt and grime they pick up can dull the perfect white sheen of their coat.

Can Dirty Fur Harm a Dog's Health?

Just because a dog's fur has turned gray or another color doesn't necessarily mean they're sick. If you don't have much time to bathe and clean your dog, as long as you maintain good hygiene, you can still enjoy playing with them.

However, if a dog's hygiene is not properly maintained, especially if they are bitten by fleas, ticks, or have scratches, they may become infected, leading to illness. For safety's sake, establish a bathing schedule for your dog. For instance, you can plan to give them a thorough cleaning every two weeks and use wet wipes or a damp cloth to wipe down their fur every other day. This will help you easily spot any stains on your dog.

If you notice red stains on your dog's fur that look like blood, it may indicate a serious situation, especially if you can't find the source of the blood. This could be due to flea bites, which can be found deep in the fur, or blood from the dog's feces or urine. In such cases, it's advisable to take your dog to a local veterinary hospital for a checkup. A professional vet will provide further guidance.

Differences Between Dog Whitening Shampoos

If you want your dog's coat to be as clean and white as possible, you'll need to find the perfect whitening shampoo for them. Whitening shampoos can be purchased at pet stores and veterinary clinics, or you can make your own at home using simple ingredients.

The differences between various shampoos are determined by their ingredients. Here are some of the most common types:

1. Cleaning and Bleaching Shampoos

These shampoos can break down stains, dirt, and various substances on a dog's fur. They are particularly effective for stains that can only be removed with water, such as blood, sap, or oil.

When purchasing a shampoo, be sure to check the ingredients to ensure they are suitable for your dog. Some shampoos have a pH level as high as 34, while a dog's pH level is generally around 67. This can cause irritation or damage to a dog's skin and fur.

2. Blue Light Shampoos

These shampoos are designed to enhance the white fur of dogs and neutralize any other colors on their coat. Unlike bleaching shampoos, they are relatively gentle.

3. Enzyme Shampoos

Enzyme shampoos are also effective at removing stains and can dissolve various substances. However, they may not be as effective on stubborn stains like wax or oil. In such cases, cleaning and bleaching shampoos may be more effective. If you choose not to use them, you'll need to use enzyme shampoos more frequently, and these shampoos are very gentle.

4. Coloring Shampoos

These shampoos are not used for cleaning stains but rather for covering them. Generally, if you want to maintain your dog's hygiene without using chemicalladen shampoos, you can use these shampoos to lighten their fur. However, remember that these shampoos are only for whitening fur and not for cleaning it. Before using these shampoos, you'll need to clean your dog's fur with a regular dog shampoo and then use these shampoos for fur care. These shampoos should never replace the shampoo you use when bathing your dog.

How to Make Dog Whitening Shampoo

If you prefer not to use commercially available shampoos with added ingredients and want to create a personalized scent for your dog, we've provided steps to make your own shampoo. You can follow these instructions to try making your own:

1. Prepare a large bottle with enough space to hold all the ingredients and thoroughly clean it before beginning to mix the ingredients.

2. Place about 100ml of regular dish soap in the bottle and choose a scent you like to replace the dish soap's scent, such as flowers, olive oil, lemon, passion fruit, etc.

3. Add 200ml of vinegar to the mixture. It's best to use a light, natural vinegar, such as apple cider vinegar. Avoid using vinegar with a strong smell, as your dog may not like the taste and might avoid bathing if the scent is too strong.

4. Add 200ml of water to the mixed shampoo, making sure it's not too concentrated.

5. Then purchase a laundry bleach that contains 2 tablespoons of bleach. This will give your shampoo a great lightening effect. This amazing liquid is made from prussian blue (ferric cyanide) and water and is relatively safe.

6. Finally, shake the whitening shampoo until it becomes wellmixed. However, be sure to shake the bottle before each use, as the density of the liquid is different, and the mixture will form different layers in the bottle as it settles.

When Not to Use Whitening Shampoos on Dogs

Although whitening shampoos can address color and stains on dogs, there are some situations to consider before deciding to use them:

If your dog is still a puppy, their skin may be too sensitive to homemade whitening shampoos. Puppies have soft, thin skin and fur, and chemicals like dish soap can irritate their skin. If your dog has an adverse reaction, stop using the whitening shampoo immediately.

If your dog has any injuries, such as bites or scratches that are bleeding, consider avoiding whitening shampoos, especially those containing bleach. Ingredients in shampoos can be more irritating to wounds and hinder healing.

If your dog has sensitive skin and is prone to skin irritation, look for medicated shampoos suitable for sensitive skin.

If your dog's skin is very dry, these shampoos can make their skin even drier, leading to rashes. In this case, you can add moisturizer to the shampoo or apply it immediately after bathing your dog.

Tip: To learn how to choose the right dog shampoo, click How to Choose the Right Dog Shampoo.